When Houston hosted Super Bowl 51 earlier this month, we heard a lot about the economic impact it would have on the area. A firm hired by the Super Bowl committee estimated the benefit would be something like $350 million coming into the local economy.

Meanwhile, amid belt-tightening in Austin, the state’s public libraries are making their case for future funding. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission recently released a study suggesting public libraries offer more than $2 billion dollars in economic benefits to Texas. Mark Smith, director and State Librarian for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, tells us about the study.

But where do numbers like these come from? What does it represent? How do we determine, with certainty, the economic impact of anything?

On this edition of Houston Matters, we discuss that process with Dietrich Vollrath, associate professor of economics at the University of Houston.

Also this hour…

Integrity and Culture at the DA’s Office

Last month, new Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg named Judge David Mendoza to lead a newly created Office of Professional Integrity. Just what will this office do? We ask Judge Mendoza.

‘Snap Judgment’ Host Glynn Washington

The public radio show Snap Judgment brings its live tour through Houston on Saturday (Feb. 25, 2017) at Cullen Performance Hall. Listeners will know the show’s mantra of “storytelling with a beat,” led by host and executive producer Glynn Washington. Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty talked with Washington and asked him where he learned the art of storytelling and about his approach to it.

Houston Matters offers a free daily, downloadable podcast here, on iTunes, Stitcher and various other podcasting apps.